Well-casing holder and elevator



Y Sept. 16, 1930.

C. E. REED WELL CASING HOLDER AND ELEVATOR Filed June 15, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 sept. 16, 1930. C. E REED 1,776,043

WELL CASING HOLDER AND ELEVATOR Filed June l5, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 7a/'ence E Reed DVVENTR Sep. 16, 1930. C. E REED 1,776,043

` WELL CASING HOLDER AND ELEVATOR Filed V.June 15. 1927 I 4 sheets-sheet 3 Gare/7c@ E Reed INVENTOR.

sepf. 16, 1930. C. E.' REED 1,776,043

WELL CASING HOLDER AND ELEVATOR Filed June l5. 1927 4 SheetsA-Shevet 4 C/aren E/Eeed INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 16, 1930 UNITED STATES CLARENCE E. REED, OF WICHITA, KANSAS WELL-CASING HOLDER AND ELEVATOR Application led June 15,

The invention relates to an improvement in well casing or tubing holder and elevator.

An object of this invention isV to provide an improved mechanism to be used for efficiently holding pipe or tubing for lowering into or removing from a well bore. f

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved type of pipe holder embodying a novel type of mechanism which Ielimilonates lateral movement of the jaws, thereby preventing the jaws contacting tangentially with the pipe. Conventional casing holders have their supporting links set with the axial line of the link tangent to the circle of the l5 pipe, and such mechanisms are built up of so many different pieces requiring freedom Jfor movement that under the loads imposed on the mechanism the combined required clearance of the movable parts pulls the area 2 0 of the slips out of their theoretical contact with the pipe so that the slips Contact on'a point or line only, instead of their entire area. This invention places the supporting mechanism in a radial line directly opposed to the line of thrust of the 'load on the mechanism and the slips being made in segments loosely held are free to adjust their contacting area fully to the irregular exterior of the pipe.

Another object of this invention is to provide removable wearing surfaces at the ends of the links which may be replaced as the occasion may require.

The usual practice is to construct holders of a cast soft steel, which metal compresses under the very heavy, concentrated loads imposed on the mechanism. Such compression,

small in itself, in the aggregate of all' the parts, is sutlicient to distort the assembly of the tangentially arranged conventional supporting mechanism, as relates to contact of the slips on the pipe.

The removable wearing surface of this invention permits the parts to be made of metals especially adapted :for the purpose, and heat treated to develop their full properties, further adding not only to the strength of the assembly but also to the smoothnessv and ease of operation.

Other objects and advantages of the in- '50 vention will be apparent from the descrip- 1927. Serial No. 198,989.

tion and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims. Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the'several views in the drawings illustrating the preferred form of my invention, in which Figure 1 is a view partly in transverse section through my improved holder showing the link and jaw mechanism, and also showing in dotted outline means for receiving the lower ends of the bails, not shown, used with elevator.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the invention, partly in section, and with the means for attachment of elevator hails omitted.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the base-member only of a spider with detachable segment.

Y Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the smaller segment of the base member.

Fig. 5 is a view of the face of the larger segment of the base, showing the recess 1", into which the projection 1 is fitted.

Fig. 6 is a view of the face of the larger segment of base, showing the surface adapted to make a butt joint with the small segment of base.

As is well known and understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, the holder may be employed either as a casing support on a platform at the mouth of the well, or as an elevator, in which event bails not shown are attached in the conventional manner to the base at eyes 9 indicated in dotted outline in Fig. 1. Itis customary to use both 'an elevator and a casing support upon' e platform in the operation of lowering a casing into the well or removing it therefrom. One serious diinculty with elevators in use is the tendency to wedge so tightly under 'load that the slips must be jarred loose with a heavy Sledge. My invention eliminates this trouble. Y

In the drawings 1 is the base of the holder; 2 is a link; 3 is a jaw; 4. are segmental slips which are held by brackets '5 secured to the jaws by screws l1. The ends 4 of the segmental slips are turned to a cylindrical shape and rest in holes' 5 in the bracket of larger diameter than the c lindrical endof the slip. The slips are there ore free to turn about the axis of the ends 4 so that the teeth 4" thereon may adjust themselves to the surface of the mental slips.

pipe. In the drawings, three segments are extent or as effectively as the arrangement of my invention.

The spiders in general use employ a clamping device that exerts a crushing pressure on opposite sides of the pipe and a portion of the l pipe at a quarter turn from the line of thrust is without support. The result is that the casing frequently is flattened. In my invention the support is distributed around the pipe uniformly and flattening of the pipe is eliminated. `The arrangements in common use employ a slip approximately 6 long, and it is not feasible to substantially increase the length of the slips in the construction heretofore employed because of conflict with the other elements of the assembly. The slip of my invention in a holder to handleV the same size casing, would be 14 long. The advantage ofthis is not only to secure a better grip on the pipe and eliminate flattening of the pipe, but the greater area of contact of my-slips with the pipe reduces unit pres-y sure on the pipe and also prevents slippage of the pipe. It frequently happens in the devices now employed for inserting a casing into a deep well, that the slips contact with the pipe at points only, or have a line contact; the slips do not hold the pipes securely v and ins deep wells, after the load on the holder has become great by-reason of the ipe inserted in the well,.the pipe slips and drops. This frequently results in a damaged casing or bad fishing jobs, from which even the wells are sometimes lost, and in any event entailsgreat expense on the owner. 1a is the liner of a socket 13 in the base. The linermay be held by a key 6 and a screw 7 or by any other suitable means. 2m and 2b are ca s on the ends of the link 2, and may be hel on the link by a pin or in any suitable manner. Pins 8 are provided which pass through aligning bores in the base, wear caps, and links as shown at 14 to provide the lower pivotal connection, and pass through alignmg -bores in the jaws, wear caps and links as shown at 15 to provide the 'upper pivotal connection of the links. 3 is a` liner in the juw- 3, held in placein the same manner as d theliner in the base. For manual manipula` known and used in this and other arts, it is shown herein. only for purposes of illustration. The usual slip connections 12 are provided between the jaws to assume their movement in unison. j

The base member may be of any desired shape, but preferably as shown inthe dra ing to eliminate excess weight. The hase is provided with a circular openingV through which the pipe passes. It is essential in a casing holder employed at the derrick floor, that means be provided whereby the holder may be removed, in case of emergency, from around the casing suspended in the well. As the casing stands suspended from an elevator a one piece 4base holder cannot be-removed. The very great loads imposed on these holders have a tendency tol spread any assembled base or frame work, and conventional holders frequently fail at critical'moments. I

To overcome this weakness of existing construction, my invention is constructed of two segments; one' of the segments D carrying three of the `jaw supporting links in three sockets '13 and the other segment E carrying one jaw supporting link in a single sbcket 13. One of the abutting faces of the larger segment D is shown in Fig. 5v with recess 1 b therein, and the smaller of the two segments (Fig. 4) is formed with projecting portion 1, that closely fits the recess. The other abuttin'gfaces of the segments are bolted tof gether as at The projection 1c is so dis posed in the recess 1b that the axis of the pro-V jection is at right angles to the line of thrust on the bearing `of the smaller segment Eof the base. It is to be observed that the thrusts due t0 j the load on the holding mechanism are all passed on radial lines through the links to the bearing onthe base.I One particular ad-v vantage ofthis arrangement is that the slip segments adjustthemselves much more etliciently to the outside of the pipe than is pos?.

sible in devices known to the trade where the supports are placed at a tangent to the circle of the pipe." An arrangement of supports at a tangent tends to twist the slips and thereby bring about a line contact with the pipe instead of an area" in contact.

It will, of course, be understood that the tendency of the jaws is to fall toward cach other about the pivotal connection of the link with the base so that they will therefore in stantly grip a pipe passing downwardly holder is lifted by means of the elevator, the friction contact of the jaws on the pipe opens the holder as the pipe is lifted. The jaws may be placed and ,1 held open by -manual means, or by the application of steam, air. or other prssure applied through well kn'own operating memsatathelever C.. .The jaws form a segmental pipe gripping bowl' or ring 10 as shown in Fig. 2.

I claim:

l. In a well casing holder, a base, a segmental pipe clamping bowl, the segments of said bowl comprisingjaws, a link connecting each jaw with said base, a plurality of segmental slips mounted in each jaw, a bracket mounted on each end of said jaw and extending inwardly thereof beyond the jaw and provided with vertically disposed circular apertures therein, said segmental slips each having a projection from each end thereof of a smaller diameter than said apertures and adapted to be inserted therein to securely hold the slips loosely within the jaws.

2. A well' casing holder having a plurality of jaws, each jaw having a plurality of slips, each slip being pivotally mounted to the jaws to have independent rotary movement of ac- Y commodation to the surface of the well casing,and means for supporting and operating the jaws, substantially as described.

3. In a well casing bolder, a substantially annular base comprising two segments adapted when connected together to completely surround the well casing and when disconnected to permit lateral removal of the base from the casing, said base having apair of diametrically opposite jaw link supporting sockets and said base having a Isecond pair of diametrically opposite jaw link supporting sockets, the diametrical lines of said pairs being at right angles to each other, one of said segments being the larger and having three of s aid sockets and the other segment having one socket, the smaller segment bearing one socket having a projection extending at right angles to the said diametrical line of said socket, and the larger segment having a bore to receive said projection, said segment being bolted together.

4. In a well casing holder, a substantially annular base comprising a large segment and a small segment removably secured to and adapted to be completely disconnected from said large segment, said small segment when completely removedleaving an opening in the annular base large eno ugh to permit lateral entry or removal ofa drill pipe, said small segment at one end having a lateral interlocking projection, and said large segment at its corresponding end having a bore to receive said projection, said segments abutting 'at their opposite ends and being bored in y alignment substantially tangentially relative to the base, and at right angles to the axial line of said projection and bore, and a clamping bolt extending through said aligned bores to clamp the segments together in interlocking relation.

5. Apparatus according to j claim 4, in which said base has four jaw link supporting sockets equally spaced about its annular surface, said large segment having three of said sockets and, said small segment having one of said sockets, the axial line of said interlocking projection and bore being at right angles to the direction of jaw link thrust to be exerted against the socket in said small segment.

6. In a well casing holder, a base, a jaw, a link pivotally connected at its ends to'said base and jaw for rocking movementin a plane vertical with respect to said base, and pipe slip segments having substantially vertical pivots, said slip segments being selfadjustable in said jaw about said substantially vertical pivots.

7 In a well casingholder, a base, a jaw, a link pivotally connected at itsends to said base and jaw, the axes of said pivots being horizontal, and pipe slip segments having substantially vertical pivots, said segments being self-adjustable in said aws about said substantially vertically disposed pivots, there being clearance about said vertical pivots to permit horizontal shifting movement of said slipsv with respect to said jaw.

8. In a well casing holder, jaws to grasp the casing, links connecting the jaws and holder, said holder including a base in sections, one section being separable from the other by a movement along a line substantially parallel to a tangent of the central opening in the base, pin and socket interlocking means for said sections formed integral with said sections which will permit said separating movement but will resist thrust substantially radial to said central opening, the axis of the assembled pin and socketbeing horizout-al, and means extending horizontally through the sections and at right angles to the axis of the pin and socket andconnecting the sections together, to resist withdrawal of the pin from the socket, said first mentioned section having a bearing for a link adjacent the interlocking means, the axial line of the pin and .socket being at right angles to the line of thrust of said link, substantially as described.

9. In a well casing holder, a base in sections, jaws to grasp the casing, links connecting the jaws and base, one section of the base being-separable from the other by a movement substantially parallel to a tangent of the central opening, interlocking means ing a bearing for a link adjacent the interlocking means, the axial line of the said 1nterlocking means being at right angles to the line of thrust of said link, substantially as described. l i

` erally from the casing, scribed.

10.In a well casing holder, a base composed of sections separable by a relative movement horizontally, said sections defining a central aperture to receive the well casing, jaws for gripping the casing, links extending radially from the jaws outwardly, each of said separable sections of the base having the outer end of a link pivoted thereto, and means for securing the sections together, said central aperture being larger than the opening within the jaws and overhung by said jaws, the removal of one section of the base leaving an opening suiiiciento ly large for the withdrawal of the base latsubstantially as decontacting faces by means carried by said contacting faces and extending substantially at right angles to the plane in ,which the link works, said sections having other faces in contact, said latter faces being vertical and substantially at right angles to the contacting faces first mentioned and removable means for holding the sections together latthe last Amentioned faces, substantially as described.

12. A base for well casing holder apparatus having a central aperture for the casing, said vbase being composed of two sections separable from each other, one of said sections having a jaw link supporting bearing to hold a jaw link in a plane radially of said aperture, said bearing havinga pivot opening, the axis of which is at right angles to the axial plane in which the link will lie, said section having a pin projecting horizontally therefrom adjacent the said bear-l ing and parallel .with the axis of the pivot, V

said other section having a socket to receive .the pin, and a bolt for securing the sections j together removably, said bolt extending horizontally and at right an les to the vertical.

plane in which the-axis o the projecting pin lies, said section having vertical contacting faces at the pin and socket connection, and other vertical 'contacting faces through 'which the boltpasses, the latter faces being in a plane at rightan les tothe faces first mentloned, substantial y as described.

13. In a Well casing holder a base composed of seperablesections defining a central opening, one section having a socket and the other section having a projectionto enter.

said socket, said latter section being removable from the other section bya sliding movement only which takes place onlyin the direction of the axis of said projection and substantially-tangential to the said central opening, said removal permitting lateral separation of base and casing, and means f'or removably connecting the sections to resist separating movement of said latter section in the said tangential direction when'thev sections are coupled.

In testimony whereof, I afix my signature.

CLARENCE E. REED. 

